Space shuttle Endeavour blasts off from Cape Kennedy – and the mission is to begin the task of assembling the international space station.

Quebec’s pro-independence government is re-elected – getting 43% of the popular vote.

Unemployment falls to 4.4%.

Passing – Albert Gore Sr. – Al Gore’s dad who served in the senate. He was 90.

Exxon Corp and Mobil Corp agree to a record $75.3 billion merger.

Another IPO goes nuts as Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch – initially at $14 goes to $60.00 before dropping back to $40.25.

After mounting no defense, former Agriculture secretary Mike Espy won acquittal on 30 counts of corruption stemming from his acceptance of sporting even tickets, travel and other favors from interest he regulated.

Technology – December 1, 1998

Eyes in the music business are on Michael Robertson’s mp3.com. mp3 is a new compression that allows users to quickly download songs from the Internet. Lots of pirated copies are being transferred. In less than a year – mp3.com has become a leading music site – some 150,000 users daily. Robertson says about half download a free song per visit.

Echostar agree so buy the satellite assets of News Corp. and MCI WorldCom Inc in a stock deal valued at $1.25 billion.

Music news – December 1, 1998

Naomi and Wynonna Judd say they will re-unite – but you’ll have to wait until New Year’s Eve – 1999.

On VH1 - Don’t miss “Storytellers.” The show offers insight into the creative process and the personalities. You could call it – a sort of updated “Behind the Hits.” Recently – Michael Stipe of R.E.M. talked about “Losing My Religion.”

Rapper Coolio is found guilty in Germany on charges of stemming from a 1997 confrontation with a boutique owner – who says Coolio punched her when she tried to shop him from taking $940 in merchandise without paying.

Top Pop Hit Music(top-40) – December 1, 1998

I’m Your Angel –R. Kelly & Celine Dion

Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here – Deborah Cox

Lately – Divine

Pushin’ Weight – Ice Cube6

Love Me – 112

Love Like This – Faith Evans

It’s All Because Of You – 98 degrees

Trippin – Total

Doo Wop (That Thing) Lauryn Hill

Top Music Albums – December 1, 1998

Greatest Hits – 2Pac

Double Live – Garth Brooks

These Are Special Times – Celine Dion

Spirit – Jewel

$1’s – Mariah Carey

Rhythm-Al-Ism – DJ Quick

Americans – the Offspring

‘N Sync – ‘N Sync

War & Peace Vol. 1 – Ice Cube

Television news – December 1, 1998

A British documentary about Colombian drug-runners broadcast on “60-Minutes” was a fake, a commission has concluded, with paid actors portrayed as drug dealers and the producer’s hotel room disguised as a drug kingpin’s jungle hide-out. Producer Don Hewitt later apologized for airing the sham.